Tufan Erhürman comments on COP31 attendance and status quo

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman stated on November 13, 2026, that the absence of his participation in the official COP31 family photo in Antalya was a direct reflection of the existing status quo on the Cyprus issue. Speaking on a televised program, Erhürman clarified that he had received his invitation to the UN Climate Change Conference from the Turkish President one month in advance, while Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides received his invitation directly from the UN event secretariat.

Erhürman emphasized that the differing methods of invitation reflected the reception and logistical realities of the summit. He noted that he had not expected to be included in the family photo and maintained that the primary value of the summit lay in the side contacts he established, which he described as positive and exceeding his expectations. Regarding the possibility of a tripartite meeting with President Christodoulides and the UN Secretary-General, Erhürman stated he had no such expectation for the Antalya event. He confirmed that the possibility of a meeting had been discussed during his session with President Christodoulides the previous Monday, where he suggested the idea.